Windshield wiper



R. B. GRAY WINDSHIELD WI PER may 5, 1927. 1,634,460

Filed March l5. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l M V /Z 1- Y v L f 1 ,f O4/'1f July 5,192?o LGIMA R. B. GRAY WINDSHIELD WIPER Filed March l5, 1926 2 Sheets-Shaw; 2

branch of the groove, the right handpin 7 will of course travel through the path 16 and deflect the lower gate or spring 17, While the left hand pin 7 will travel down through the arcuate path 11. The lower spring 17 acts as a gate to revent the right hand p in 7 from moving ack u into the path 16. It will be noted that uring the travel of the carriage it will be held or guided by the inner plate 1a of the casing.

In the modification shown in Fi re 4 there is a somewhat similar casing 13 which is similarly supported on the windshield. This casin comprises an inner plate 1a and an outer p ate 14 upon the inner surface of which are a pair of spaced substantially continuous or oblong grooves 15. Each groove consists of a branch 15a and a branch 15". The branch 15b connects with the branch 15*l b a sloping path 16 which is maintained closed with respect to one direction of travel of the carriage by a leaf sprn 17 or other suitable gate. The brano 15a of each groove extends beyond the branch 15b for a purpose that will later appear. A gear or cog wheel 18 is suitably supported upon the plate 1a of the casing between said grooves and'may be connected to a suitable motor 19 for driving the same. 'Ihis gear 18 meshes with the internal teeth of an oblong or rectangular rack 20 pro-y vided with terminal studs 21 supported in the aforementioned grooves. The rack 20 is provided with depending arms 22 upon whlch the windshield swipes 6 are secured. Instead of making the rack 20 with arcuate ends as shown in Figure 4 it may be made with square ends as shown in Figure 8 which can be more readily manufactured.

It will be obvious that if the gear 18 is continuously rotated in one direction the rack 20 will travel in a continuous path, which is substantially oblong. As illustrated in the drawings, the gear 18 will be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4, whereby the rack 20 is caused to travel to the left. When the left hand stud 21 travels through the inclined path 16' it will lift the spring or gate 17 and enter the branch 15a of the groove and may continue to travel onward in the extendedportion di the groove 15a until the right hand end ofthe rack has been elevated by gear 18 to bring its pin 21 into the upper branch of the groove. At this time the gear will come into engagement with the lower teeth on the rack 20 which will now be driven to the right, the right hand stud 21 passing through the sloping path 16 and past the gate 17 into the branch 15* ofthe groove and the left hand pin 21 passing" ain into thelower branch of its oove as a ady ex amed. The gates 1 prevent a return o paths 16,

the studs 21 into the inclined;v

In the modification of the invention shown in Figure 6, the casing is substan- .tially the same as shown in Figure 5. There is shown a similar plate 14 provided with the continuous or oblong grooves 15 as above described and a cog wheel 18 mounted between said grooves and driven by a motor 19. The diiierence between the structures shown in Figures 4 and 6 is that in Figure 6 a different form of rack is used for carrying the windshield swipes. In referring to F1gure 6 it will be noted that a plate 23 having suitable depending arms 24 is provided with terminal studs 25 which travel in the grooves 15. An oblong rack or band 26 provided with suitable spaced apertures 27 is permanently secured to the plate 23. The teeth of the gear wheel 18 engage in these apertures 27 and propel the plate 23 in an endless or oblong path. The opera* tion of the plate 23 is substantially the same as the rack bar 20 above described. In fact, the oblong band 26 constitutes a rack which erforms the same function as the rack )ar 2O in the above described structure.

Instead of making the supporting arms 5, 22 and 24 integral with their carriage, they may be made adjustable as shown, in Figures 10 and 11. In (referring to said figures it will be noted that the wiper supporting arm 28 is positioned in a vertical groove 29 in a carriage 14a and clam ed thereto by a bolt 30 and nut 31. A clamping washer 32 may be applied to the bolt. The nut 31 may be loosened and the arm 28 swun into horizontal position and inserted in a ongitudinal groove 33 in the plate 14EL whereby the wiper and arm are removed from the glass of the shield.

It is characteristic of this invention that the operating means for the windshield wipers may continuously operate in the same direction, causin the wiping'mechanism to travel in a contlnuous or substantially oblong path whereby` a larger area of the windshield may be wiped and whereby a simple motor may be used for operating the same.

l am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide ran e without departing from the principles o this invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent anted hereon otherwise than necessitated y the prior art.

I claim as m invention:

1. A windshield wiper comprising a support having an endless guideway, a carriage,

.prpjectipnson said carriage extending into ,said guideway, means for alternatel shiftsaid `carriage longitudinally an vertiofthe support,and wipers mounted on. `sai `carriage adapted to be moved long tirdinallyand vertically by said carriage.

.2., A. windshieldycleaner comprising a suppol-b heving an endless guideway therein9 a rege through` e continuous path and. cause carnage, `projections on said carrie e exthe swipes to alternately move longitudi tending 'inte said guideway, a pura lty of nelly and transversely of a surface to dem w' swipes mounted on said carnage, means for different areas thereof.

adjusting said swipes with respect to sai n testimony whereof I have hereunto sub-J4 oarriege, and a driving mechanismen-acting scribe my name.

with2 eei carriage adapted to move the car- RALPH Ba GRAY. 

